Some of you might see the Boat Racing Festival in Luang Prabang on spot. If you did not yet experience it, we will tell you how it was. The Boat Racing Festival this year was held on 28th August. Locally the festival is called “Boun Suang Heua” or “Boun Deuan Kao” in Luang Prabang. On the pre-event’s day, on the 27th August, from 6.00 AM to noon, there was a local fair locally called “Talad Nad” on the street from the Post Office to the Old Stadium. The road was crowded with people coming from the whole town of Luang Prabang and other provinces. On the 28th August, early the morning, as usual, there were alms giving where more than two monks and novices passed on the main street. Some people of Luang Prabang went to the temples to make the alms giving. Ladies wore local dress. From 10.00 AM, lots of people were on the Nam Khan Street. In the afternoon, the main event was on the Nam Khan River. The boats racing started at 13.15 and ended at 18.10 along the Nam Khan River. This year, 19 boats in total were on the racing. The order of the winner was as follows:

1.) First rank: The boat of Hat Hien Village, sponsored by Phousi Hotel and Thavisab Marketing

2.) Second rank: The boat of Bank of Foreign Trade of Laos (BCEL)

3.) Third rank: The boat of Chomphet District

4.) Fourth rank: The boat of Vilaykun Co.,Ltd

5.) Fifth rank: The boat of Meung Ngeun Village

6.) Sixth rank: The boat of Xieng Lom Village

7.) Seventh rank: The boat of Pakham Village

8.) Eighth rank: The boat of Nunsavath Village

9.) Ninth rank: The boat of Vansay Minivan Co.,Ltd

10.) Ninth rank: The boat of the Friendship between That Luang Village and Lampang City (Thailand).

11.) Ninth rank: The boat of Pakseuang Village

12.) Ninth rank: The boat of Xieng Thong Village, sponsored by 3 Naga Hotel and Nam Bak 1.

13.) Thirteenth rank: The boat of That Mak Mo “Watermelon Stupa”.

14.) Thirteenth rank: The boat of the Friendship between Wat Sen Village and Province Utaradith (Thailand).

15.) Thirteenth rank: The boat of the Friendship between Hat Hien Village and Province Nan (Thailand).

16.) Thirteenth rank: The boat of Saleuane Village, sponsored by Lao Telecommunication.

17.) Seventeenth rank: The boat of Muang Khaii Village

18.) Seventeenth rank: The boat of Pha Khom Group

19.) Seventeenth rank: The boat of Xieng Thong Village, sponsored by 3 Naga Hotel and Nam Bak 2.

The winner price was as follows:

1.) First rank: Real Silver Cup with the weight of 1 Kg and 10.000.000 Kip.

2.) Second rank: Real Silver Cup with the weight of 0,8 Kg and 9.000.000 Kip.

3.) Third rank: Real Silver Cup with the weight of 0,5 Kg and 8.000.000 Kip.

4.) Fourth rank: 7.000.000 Kip

5.) Fifth rank: 6.500.000 Kip

6.) Sixth rank: 6.000.000 Kip

7.) Seventh rank: 5.500.000 Kip

8.) Eighth to nineteenth rank: 5.000.000 Kip

9.) Special price for the Boat of “Nang Dam” and the Boat of “Nang Don”: 700.000 Kip

10.) Special boat for the two “Amusing” Boats: 500.000 Kip

Next year, if you have a plan to come to Luang Prabang and decide to sponsor one of the boats on behalf of your Company, Organization or Family, you are welcome. Many boats need sponsors. This lovely festival adds the charm to Luang Prabang. Come and experience the festival in Luang Prabang next year. The below pictures will tell you how the festival was.

The Amusement on the 28th August 2011

The boats racing on the 28th August 2011 on Nam Khan River in Luang Prabang